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Book Notes: Fooling Houdini
A little over ten years ago, a mass market book arrived that caused a stir in the magic world. Specifically, it was Fooling Houdini: Magicians, Mentalists, Math Geeks, and the Hidden Powers of the Mind by Alex Stone. Stone was a graduate student at the time as well as an aspiring writer and part time… Continue reading
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Media Notes: Justin Wilman: Magic Lover
On a recent evening, I reluctantly hit the select button on the remote and started streaming the Netflix show, Justin Wilman: Magic Lover. Reluctantly because I’d watched a few episodes of his previous series, Magic For Humans, as well as some YouTube clips from various television appearances and, honestly, I really didn’t care for his… Continue reading
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A Fine Line
A recent magic podcast featured a two part interview with a comedian talking about the similarities and differences between magic and stand-up. A significant portion of the second episode was on the comedian’s approach to working with the audience or as it’s called, crowd work. Crowd work is hard and requires empathy and respect as… Continue reading
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To Speak or Not?
A rhetorical question: if you see someone performing and they behave badly, treat others horribly or make people uncomfortable, should you say something? I’ve taken both approaches and I really don’t know. On one hand, no one wants unsolicited advice. On the other, I don’t believe that people want to look like insensitive jerks. I… Continue reading
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What Was The Question?
Recently a question was posed on a magic forum about the contributions of Eugene Burger. Specifically the question was “What can we learn from Eugene Burger?” Having had the opportunity to get to know him over the last twenty years of his life, I was overwhelmed by potential answers to the question. I composed different… Continue reading
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Brooks’ Baffling Bra
One of the most maligned magic effects has to be the Baffling Bra or simply, the bra trick. Fortunately it seems to have faded from popularity as it’s terribly inappropriate. If you’re unfamiliar, two silk handkerchiefs are tied together and placed into the top of an unsuspecting woman. Sometimes a third handkerchief is shown and… Continue reading
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Magic Clubs
If asked, I will readily admit that I have been a member of the IBM and the SAM. I reached the second level of the Order of Merlin before dropping out during the pandemic. I believe that I reached more than ten years with SAM in spite of my many in’s and out’s. Currently I’ve… Continue reading